Basket cover fastener



March 7, 1933. w w HARGROVES 1,900,810

I BASKET QOVER FASTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1952 March 7, 1933. w w HARGROVES 1,900,810

BASKET COVER FASTENER Filed Aug. 51, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 gular heads,

Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNI-TED srA'rEs- PATEN OFFICE WILLIS w. ,namnovns, or ronrsmourn, BASKET com alarm This invention relates toimprovements in baskets or similar containers used in shipping and storing fruits, vegetables and e like, and more particularly the invention a ms to provide an improved cover and fastening basket.

Heretofore there has been difficulty encountered in the transportation of the usual hamper, basket or similar container used in 'shippin fruits, vegetables and the like. Because the handling to which the baskets are subjected during shipment, it often happens that the cover becomes split and ulti mately broken which :results in "loss or damage to the contents. Likewise, the means forifastening the cover to thebasket often breaks and results in the loss of the contents. In some instances the contents of the baskets must be inspected and it is, therefore, desirable to have fastening means which permit the ready removal of the cover for inspection of the contents and which, at the same time, furnish the required strength to withstandthe handling during transportation. The present invention aims to remedy the above-mentioned difiiculties and others. I

An object of the invention isto provide, in a shipping basket of the type referred to, fastening means for securing the cover to the basket wherein the said fastening means greatly aid in reinforcing the cover.'

A further object of the present inven tion is the provision,'in a basket of thetype referred to, of fastening means for securing the cover to the basket wherein deformed staples secured to the side of the basket are adapted to receive the ends of wires which are secured-to the cover and serve to reinforce'the said cover.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in a-basket of the type referred to, of fastening means for securing the cover to the basket wherein'staple's secured to the side of the basket andadapted to receive the ends of fastening wires seaimed to the cover are. behtto form triantwo' 1 sides of which converge means for securing the cover to the i Application flledAugust S1, 1932. Serial No. 631,253.

inwardly and meet substantially at the surface of the side of the basket.

The invention still further aims to provide, in a shipping basket of the type referred to, a fastening device which permits the ready removal of the cover for inspection of the contents, which is easily applied and inexpensively manufactured and which adds to the strength of the cover and thus affords better protection to the contents of the basket. 0 i

With the above and other objects in View,

the invention consists in the detailsof construction'and' arrangement of parts to be hereinafter claimed.

' In the drawings:

Fig. lis a perspective view of the basket and cover therefor.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the rim of the basket showing one of the staples with one'end of the fastening wire secured thereto.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a staple with one end of the wire secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectiontaken along more fully described and the line 44 of Fig. 2 showing a staple passed throu h the top reinforcin stri s of the basket. 1 p

-F i 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the basket and'a rim cover.

ig..6'is a vertical section similar to F ig. 2 but showing the cover with a rim.

Fig. 7 is showing the-rim cover and a modified form of fastening the wire to the staple. In the drawings, by wa. of illustration,a circular hamper or has et 10 is shown. This basket comprises tially U-shaped outer staves 11 which are spaced apart and a series of similar inner staves 12 which are placed over theopenings between each. of whereby the side ofthe basket is entirely closed. ..Encircling the side of the basket are hoops 13, 13a which are secured thereto by staples or thelike andTwhichserve'to greatly reinforce the 14, 15 extend around a view similar'to Fig. 3 but a series of substan- 1 the outer staves 11' the top of the basket. The ends of the staves 11, 12 are securely held between the hoops 1 1, 15 by means of staples or the like. The basket may be provided with handles 16 if so desired. It is apparent that a single hoop may be used in place of the two hoops 13, 13a and the construction of the basket mai be otherwise changed.

he cover comprises a series of parallel slats 17 cut to provide a circular cover to conform with the top of the basket. The slats 17 are held in spaced relationship by two reinforcing members or battens 18 which extend substantially across the ends of said slats and are secured thereto by staples 19. Each batten 18 is provided with a length of wire 20 which is secured thereto by the same staples 19 which hold the slats 17 and the said battens together. The length of wire 20 extends the entire length of each batten and has end portions 21 which extend beyond the edge of the cover and basket. As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, this cover may be provided with a rim 22 secured to the cover by staples 23 or the like. A rim cover is often used on various types of baskets, tubs or hampers.

. As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6, a comparatively large staple 2 1 extends through the reinforcing hoops 14, 15 and the staves 11, 12. The ends 25 of the staple 24 are clinched upon the inner reinforcing hoop 15, one of said ends being bent upwardly and the other being bent downwardly. The closed end of the staple 2 1 is bent to form a triangular head 26, the sides 27, 28 of which gradually converge and approximately meet at the exterior surface of the outer reinforcing hoop 14c and from there the arms 29 which form a base portion, extend substantially parallel through the reinforcing hoops and staves. There are four of the staples 2 1 positioned at intervals around the top of the basket to receive the ends 21 of the wires 20. In Figs. 3 and 7, two ways in which the ends 21 of the wire 20 may be fastened to. the staple 2 1 are shown. In Fig. 3, the wire 21 is first passed through the triangular opening in the head 26 and then the end 21 of the wire is wrapped around the sides 27, 28 of the staple. In Fig. 7, the wire is first wrapped around the sides 27 28 of the staple and then the end 21 is passed through the triangular opening in the head 26. It is, of course, obvious that the wires may be fastened to the staples in any number of ways which are equally advantageous. The particular advantage in providing a fastening element in the form of the staple 2 1 lies in the fact that there is no shoulder portion to weaken the staple and thus diminish its holding power. The converging sides 27 28 are so formed in order to force the wire 20 inwardly close to the side of the hoop 14 as it is wrapped around the staple. Thus, the entire pull on the staple will be substantially at the stem or base portion where the arms 29 of the staple enter the reinforcing hoop 1 1. At such a point, there is little or no chance of bending the staple and allowing the wire 20 to slip off as there would be if the strain was at some point on the staple away from the edge of the hoop 14.

A further advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the wires 20 serve as 'part of the fastening means, but, at the same time, aid in reinforcing the cover.

'Since each wire 20 is secured to each slat 17 by a staple 19, which also secures the cross batten 18 to the slat and wire, the possibility that one or more of the slats or battens may split is not to be feared, because the wires 20, being secured to both the slats 17 and battens 18, will hold the same in place and thus prevent loss or damage to the contents of the basket.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that this invention provides an easily applied and inexpensive fastener for baskets, hampers or the like and one which is thoroughly reliable and which greatly strengthens the basket and adds to the protection of the contents.

It is obvious that minor changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of a basket having a reinforcing strip at the top thereof, a cover for said basket, said cover comprising parallel slats and reinforcing members extending substantially across the ends thereof and secured thereto, means for fastening said cover to said basket, said means including wires extending the entire length of each reinforcing member and secured thereto, and fastening elements to which the ends of said wires are secured, said fastening elements being secured to said reinforcing strip.

2. The combination of a basket having a reinforcing strip at the top thereof, a cover for said basket, said cover comprising parallel slats and reinforcing members extending substantially across the ends thereof and secured thereto, means for fastening said cover to said basket, said means including wires secured to said reinforcing members, and fastening elements to which the ends of said wires are secured, said fastening elements comprising astaple having a triangular head portion with inwardly converging arms, said converging arms being adapted to meet at the surface of said reinforcing strip and then pass through said reinforcing strip in close proximity to each other.

3. A basket comprising in combination, a body portion having reinforcing hoops at the top thereof, a cover for said bod portion, said cover comprising paralle slats having reinforcing members secured thereto and extending substantially across the ends thereof, and means for fastening said wire to said body portion, said means including wires secured to each of said reinforcing membersgland extending lengthwise thereof, and fastening elements to which the ends of said wires are secured, each of said fastening elements comprising a staple having an enlarged head and inwardly converging arms which substantially meet at the surface of the outer reinforcing hoop and then pass through the same in close proximity to each other.

4. The combination of a basket having a reinforcing strip atthe-top thereof, a cover for said basket and means for securing said cover to said basket, said means including fastening members secured at intervals to said reinforcing strip, each of said fastening members comprising a horizontally disposed head portion having inwardly converging sides and a base portion extending throu h said reinforcing strip, said means also including wires extending across said cover, the ends of said wires being wrapped around said head portion whereby the wires are urged toward the reinforcing strip by the converging sides and the strain on said fastening member is thusicaused to come at the base thereof.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

WILLIS W. HARGROVES. 

